Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has explained why the MotoGP Rookie Rule looks set to be dropped for 2013, clearing the way for Moto2 star Marc Marquez to join Repsol Honda next year.

The present rule, which bans first-season riders from joining a factory team, was brought in for 2010.

It was intended to help the satellite teams gain the funding, factory support and track success that goes with having the hottest young stars - for one season at least.

The main effect was to force Ben Spies to spend his first year at Tech 3 Yamaha, but Suzuki was able to gain an exemption for Alvaro Bautista since the factory didn't have a satellite team.

Honda is keen to sign Marquez as a replacement for retiring world champion Casey Stoner, and the satellite teams seem to feel there is little benefit in potentially being forced to ditch their existing sponsors and some team members for a single-year Marquez deal.

Manufacturers can no longer simply add another bike, each being restricted to four machines (two official and two satellite).

With the very (satellite) teams the rule was intended to help untroubled by its removal, the new CRT class having been created and a lack of any 2013 satellite rides being made available for rookies, Ezpeleta has confirmed Dorna will now propose that the Rookie Rule is dropped.

Ezpeleta told MotoGP.com: “The Rookie Rule was implemented to protect the interests of the independent [satellite] teams. We had a grid of around 20 bikes then, all of them factory [made] bikes. Similar performance.

“Today we have factory bikes and CRT. Any new riders can either ride a satellite bike or go to CRT. But [if they can't get a satellite ride] maybe some would prefer to stay in Moto2 or do other things."

Ezpleta's next step was to ask the satellite teams if they expected to have any vacancies for new riders in 2013.

When told their priority was "to keep their existing riders" the Spaniard decided it would be "commonsense to propose to the Grand Prix Commission [that the Rookie Rule is dropped]".

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translated to "well, we removed the rookie rule because I am Spanish. the championship is owned by a Spanish company, Marquez is a Spanish rider, and Repsol is a huge Spanish sponsor. so for us, the rule no longer makes any sense,"
"oh and did i mention we are spanish?"
just my take on it...